Apprenticeship Requirements & FAQ’s

• • This sponsored apprenticeship is an investment in your team.
  • The sponsor is responsible for paying (at least) 50% of the apprentices tuition, books, supplies & fees.
  • The sponsor agrees to keep the apprentice employed & provide them with the required 1680 (minimal) paid apprenticing hours (per year) through the completion of the program (4 years). Hours are based on each semester, not just yearly. Students who do not complete the hours needed each semester, may not be able to continue to the next semester until they are completed.
  • The sponsor is responsible for submitting each of their sponsored apprentices hours each semester.

• • Participating Employer. A “Participating Employer” is a trade or business which, with the consent of the Lead Employer, executes a Participation Agreement to the Adoption Agreement. A Participating Employer is an Employer to the apprentice, for all purposes of the Plan. A Participating Employer must be a registered entity in the state of Florida, and be of the related field of the apprentice.
  • Participation Agreement means a written agreement entered into between a Participant and the Employer
    
    
  • Adoption Agreement means the written agreement pursuant to which the Employer adopts the Plan. The Adoption Agreement is a part of the Plan as applied to the Employer

• • The cost to sponsor an apprentice is (at least) 50% of tuition & fees for each apprentice you sponsor.
  • As a non-profit, your sponsorship is 100% tax deductible, and many sponsors opt to pay up to 100% of their apprentices tuition.
  • Currently, this price is set at $8350 for the full, 4 year, program (starting Spring 2021); which includes tuition, lab fees, administrative costs, graduation, books & supplies. Price is subject to change. Please contact our administration for  current pricing.
  •  Please see our enrollment packet for current pricing & breakdown.

• • To sponsor an apprentice you must be a registered Plumbing company in the State of Florida & be fully licensed. You must agree to sponsor your apprentice for the full 4 years they are in the program & agree to offer them no less than the yearly required 1680 hours of in-field training.
  • In-field training refers to the hours you employ & train your apprentice. These hours must be reported at the end of each semester for your apprentice to maintain enrollment status. To submit the hours of your apprentices, please email copies of their accumulated hours to: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com

• • As a sponsor, you agree to keep sponsoring your apprentice. Relationships can be hard, but when you agree to sponsor an apprentice, you are also agreeing to do everything in your power to work things out with them, within company policy, to help them maintain their enrollment status.
  • Offer a minimum of 1680 hours per year to your apprentice.
  • Support your apprentice
  • To schedule your apprentice appropriately so he/she will not miss any hours of in-class. Missed in-class time or failed tests may result in re-taking the tests and/or classes at an additional cost.

• • Download a Sponsor Packet HERE & submit your originals by mail or in person.
  • Download the Apprenticeship Program Application Packet HERE, review information yourself & have your apprentice fill it out fully. You will also need to sign designated areas of their packet for approval.
    • • Please note your apprentice will need to submit the NOTARIZED application along with a copy of their id, a color photo.
      • Notary & photography services available on-premises. See the packet or call for details.

• By enrolling in the sponsor/apprenticeship program, the employer is agreeing to do all he/she can to keep their apprentice employed.
• If your apprentice leaves or is let go are let go for any reason, you MUST notify Clearwater Trade School within 5 business days & submitting, in writing, the details of why he/she is no longer with your company: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com
  • • No refunds will be given if the sponsor/apprentice relationship is terminated.
    • Too many broken sponsor/apprentice relationships may result in termination or suspension of the Participation Agreement.

• • If you are a company sponsoring 5 or more apprentices & would like to pay per a semester, please email us for a credit application: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com
  • Payment plans are only available to sponsors, we do not offer payment plans to apprentices at this time.

• • Download a Sponsor Packet HERE & submit your originals by mail or in person.
  • Download the Apprenticeship Program Application Packet HERE, review information yourself & have your apprentice fill it out fully. You will also need to sign designated areas of their packet for approval.
    • • Please note your apprentice will need to submit the NOTARIZED application along with a copy of their id, a color photo.
      • Notary & photography services available on-premises. See the packet or call for details.

• • There ARE limited grants & scholarships available through Career Source of Pinellas County & also Career Source of Hillsborough County for sponsors. If your business is registered with Carer Source & does business in either of these Counties you COULD qualify. Career Source will need to determine your eligibility for any available grants, that MAY cover up to 50% of paid apprenticeship hours for up to 6 months. If you would like more information, please email us: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com

• Yes! If you would like to receive a list of available plumbing apprentices seeking employment & sponsoring – please email us: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com Subject: CTS Sponsor Seeking Apprentices. We will email you a list of applicants you may reach out to on your own terms. Please note: Clearwater Trade School does not conduct interviews on behalf of the sponsors. None of the information submitted by the apprentices has been verified. It is up to the responsibility of all businesses to do their due diligence before sponsoring an apprentice. Clearwater Trade School is not responsible for your hiring process, & relinquishes all responsibility in the sponsor/apprentice relationship.

• • The apprenticeship program is a program built for working professionals. Your sponsor will agree to the terms of your class schedule & agrees to give you the time off needed to complete your class hours & tests.
  • The classes work hand-in-hand with your work hours – 240 in-class & 1680 in-field hours per year must be met along with completed tests & assignments. Your sponsor is responsible for giving you the hours needed. YOU are responsible for meeting the required hours & keeping track of your time. 
  • Each test must be passed per the instructors’ requirements for you to proceed to the next semester.

• • Apprentices enrolling for Spring 2021 will be able to take advantage of first-year pricing, which will be honored for all 4 years of the program, assuming the apprentice has no interruption of their learning (no missed classes). Currently, this price is set at $8350 for the full program, which includes tuition, lab fees, administrative costs, graduation, books & supplies.
  •  Please see our enrollment packet for current pricing & breakdown.
  • Of this price, your sponsor should agree to pay at least 50% of the costs on your behalf, each semester. Talk to your sponsor for more details.
  • Student financial obligations for the full year are due no less than 15 business days before classes begin for semester 1 – each year. This includes books & supplies for the full year.
  • Students enrolling for Fall 2021 or after – please email us for pricing: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com
  • Please see your enrollment packet for the most up-to-date pricing & data.
  • There are no refunds to students or sponsors once payment has been dispersed. If a student de-enrolls/drops out or falls below the attendance requirements in any one semester, he/she will be financially responsible for the cost of re-enrollment to continue. The price of re-enrollment will be billed at that year’s price.

• • Be hired by a Sponsor employer no less than 90 days (subject to change or special approval) prior to enrollment date
  • Complete Registration complete with photos & notarized documents
  • Pay tuition, books & supplies for each year prior to enrollment date

• • Pay tuition for each year
  • Complete 1080 in-class hours total for all required years
  • Complete all assignments for all required classes
  • Pass all tests for all required classes
  • Complete no less than 1680 apprenticing hours per year for all required years
  • Maintain apprenticeship/employment status with your sponsor each semester.

If you are let go from your apprenticeship or leave for any reason, you MUST notify Clearwater Trade School within 5 business days. This DOES NOT mean you are dropped from the program right away. You MUST continue to go to classes & agree to work with Clearwater Trade School in finding a sponsor before the next semester. It is NOT the responsibility of Clearwater Trade School to find you a replacement sponsor, however, we offer growing resources in aiding you if this were to become the case. It is the student’s responsibility to keep their apprenticeship each semester. Failure to keep a sponsor for two or more semesters may result in the relinquishment of your spot in the apprenticeship program. Email administration@clearwatertradeschool.com for more information.

If you are currently seeking plumbing employment/sponsorship for the Clearwater Trade School Plumbing Apprenticeship Program, you may fill out the online request form HERE. This form adds you to a list of applicants seeking sponsorship for our program & is offered to inquiring plumbing companies.

Please note being added to his list does not guarantee you will be hired or accepted into the program. This form acts only as a helping hand to connect to parts of our community.  Clearwater Trade School does not conduct interviews on behalf of the sponsors/apprentices. It is up to the responsibility of all businesses to do their due diligence before sponsoring an apprentice. Clearwater Trade School is not responsible for the hiring process, & relinquishes all responsibility in the sponsor/apprentice relationship.

Not that this time. Clearwater Trade School will be working on gaining recognition from the State of Florida to become eligible for its ‘students’ to apply for loans or grants. While we do not yet know the exact time frame this will take, know we will be working diligently to offer programs for financial assistance in the future. 

HOWEVER There ARE limited grants available to sponsoring employers through Career Source of Pinellas County & also Career Source of Hillsborough County for sponsors. Contact your sponsoring employer for more information or email us: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com

• • • Not that this time. Clearwater Trade School does not have the ability to offer private financing for its programs at this time. If you are having a problem affording the program, we suggest discussing this with your potential sponsor employer, to see if they can work something our with/for you. Additionally, if you would like to talk to administration about options for enrollment, please email: administration@clearwatertradeschool.com & include your full contact info, current potential sponsor, and other information related to your situation – and our administrative staff will respond as promptly as possible.
    • Payment plans are only available to sponsors, we do not offer payment plans to apprentices at this time

• • There is a professional notary on-premises, available M-F 8 am to 4 pm. 
  • For time slots after those hours, please call Mr. Hubbard with Tampa Bay Plumbing, directly: 727-221-6336
  • Notary costs are $10 per document/notary needed.

• • There is a professional photographer on-premises, available M-Th 8 am to 4 pm. After 4 pm/Friday timeslots available, click HERE to make an appointment or call Krystal directly: 727-223-6403
  • Photos are $5 per photo & $5 for additional color prints. 
  • Other Photo services available